Tehran University Medical Journal

---

Sex determination is the first step in identification of dead body and hip bone or its components are reliable in sex discrimination. The present study was done to determine the applicability of some osteometric parameters of human hip bone in sex identification. Sixteen different variables for the anterior border of 50 human hip bones from a skeletal collection were studied. Statistically significant difference were detected between means in relation to sex for four variables, including: distance from the anterior superior iliac spine to the pubic tubercle, distance from the anterior inferior iliac spine to the iliopubic eminence, distance from the anterior inferior iliac spine to the pubic tubercle and length of the notch between the anterior inferior iliac spine and the iliopubic eminence. These variables could be used for sex determination of the unknown human hip bones.

---

Background: In order to evaluate bone induction and repair in cranial bone defects by the use of combination of Octacalcium Phosphate/Bone Matrix Gelatin (OCP/BMG), this study was conducted.

Materials and Methods: We used 40 young male Sprague dawley rats (5-6 weeks age). A full thickness standardized trephine defect, 5mm in diameter, was made in the rat parietal bone and OCP combined with BMG was implanted into the defect. No OCP/BMG particles were implanted in control group that was otherwise treated identically. On the 5th, 7th, 14th, and 21st days after implantation, the rats were killed and bone samples collected. After processing the tissues by routine histological procedures, 5mm thick sections of bone were cut and stained with Haematoxyline and Eosin (H& E) and alcian blue and examined by light microscope.

Results: On the 5th day after implantation, inflammatory cells were seen around the implanted materials, especially around the OCP particles. A few clusters of cartilage cells were observed between the BMG particles in the central position of defects on the 7th day after implantation. On the 14th day after implantation, osteogenesis was seen at the margins of the defects. In addition to bone formation from the margins toward the center, interstitial growth of new bone tissue was seen around the implanted materials. By the end of 21st day, almost all of the OCP/BMG particles were absorbed and bone trabeculae, bone marrow cavities and bone marrow tissues were seen. In the control group, at the end of 21th day, a few areas of new bone were seen near to the defect margins and host bone, but much less than in the experimental group.

Conclusion: Therefore, implants of OCP/BMG appear to stimulate new bone growth in bone defects and these biomaterials could be used in the repair of cranial bone defects and injuries in clinical situations.

---

Background: Freezing and thawing induce a number of insults to the sperm cells, such as low motility and low fertilization capability. For evaluation of hyaluronan (HA) supplementation on sperm characteristics, we investigated the effect of hyaluronan (HA) on mouse sperm before freezing and after thawing.
Methods: For this purpose we removed cauda epididimes from 24 male mice with aseptic method and freezed the semen in 1.8ml cryotubes with %18 raffinose and %3 skim milk cryoprotectant solution.We had 4 groups: group 1(fresh control) group 2(freeze control) group 3(supplemented 750 µg/ml HA to sperm before freezing) and group 4(supplemented 750 µg/ml HA to sperm after thawing). Fertility rate evaluated after routine IVF by counting two-cell stage embryos.
Results: HA supplementation (750µg/ml) after thawing improved fertilization capability parameters but supplementation before freezing had no effect on mentioned characteristic.
Conclusion: Acording to data of present study the hyaluronan supplemen- tation (750µg/ml) after thawing has the greatest effect on the fertility rate of sperms.

---

Background: The anatomy of the palmar vascular arches and their variations, being one of the most challenging anatomical regions for reconstructive surgeon.
Case Presentation: During a routine dissection of a male adult cadaver in dissection hall of zahedan university of medical sciences, a complex, unilateral and rare variation in the pattern of blood supply to the palm of the right hand was observed. The history of the individual and cause of the death is not known. In this cadaver there was an incomplete superficial palmar arterial arch had no contribution from the radial artery. The superficial palmar arch giving only one common palmar digital artery, that supply second interdigital space and then it terminated by giving rise to a common trunk for princeps pollicis and radialis indicis arteries. Absence of the second and third common palmar digital artery with the contiguous sides of the third and forth interdigital spaces supply by the second and third palmar metacarpal arteries from the deep palmar arch respectively. The third palmar metacarpal artery giving rise to a branch which supplies the medial side of the little finger.
Conclusion: Having knowledge of the variations of vascular patterns resulting from a number of developmental errors could provide an important source of information for Anatomists, Radiologist, reconstructive and vascular surgeons.